Home Improvements for Hrant A.
Description
Hrant and his wife along with their married son and his family all live together in the border village of Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur. Â Seven people total live in this home, including three children under the age of six. Â The home is in need of a full remodel including the addition of one bedroom to offer the children a space of their own. Â
The family has a small plot of land around the house. They have a pig and a cow and some bee hives. They also have a small plot of land on the edge of the village that they use to harvest grass for use in their small barn. Â
Hrant is a retired soldier from the Armenian army and lives on a pension. His son, Karen, works in Berd and also works as a beekeeper for The Paros Foundation’s honey production effort at the local school. Â
Hrant’s house is in overall poor condition with their greatest need being a new roof and doors and windows. They also do not have proper heating. Â This effort would not only solve these critical housing needs, but also provide this large family with a completely renovated and reconfigured home for them.
Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur is an important border village with a population of approximately 1,100 residents in the Berd area of Armenia’s Tavush Region. This community remains under constant risk of sniper fire and renewed armed conflict. NKA was the single most damaged Armenian village during the Azeri conflict in the 1990’s. The economy of the village and the livelihood of many of its residents have suffered due to these difficult and dangerous conditions. In particular, 70% of their fertile land is unusable because of frequent sniper attacks. Nerkin Karmir Aghbyur is a beneficiary village of the Paros Foundation’s Prosperity on the Border Initiative. With major financial support of Jean-Marie Atamian and his family over the last 10 years, much of the village’s infrastructure has been completely rebuilt and improved including, but not limited to, its large secondary school, expanded kindergarten, medical center, emergency services building and water distribution system. In addition, several families have benefited from agribusiness and animal husbandry projects. Having funded the rebuilding of NKA’s infrastructure, the Atamian family is now focusing its attention on the reconstruction of severely damaged houses to provide decent and safe homes for deserving families in the village.Â
Region
City / Village
Start Date
End Date
Gallery Images
The Need
Hrant A.’s home is in poor condition. Â Due to lack of economic opportunities in this border community, Hrant and his family cannot afford to renovate their home. Â A leaky roof, poor windows and lack of proper heating create unsafe and uncomfortable conditions for his large family.Â
Short Term Impact
In the short term, a local construction crew will be employed to renovate this home and earn a fair market wage. Â Reconstruction materials will be purchased locally also to provide a benefit to the regional economy. Â
Long Term Impact
In the long term, as homes in these communities are improved, local villagers will take greater pride in their communities. More importantly, Hrant and his family will live in safer and more comfortable conditions. Â
Sponsors Benefits
All sponsors of this important project will be listed on The Paros Foundation’s website and in all press related to this project. Visits to these communities can be arranged for sponsors visiting Armenia.
Ms. Nariné Atamian
New York, NYMs. Nariné Atamian
New York, NYMs. Nariné Atamian
New York, NYUpdates: Images & Information
Work on Hrant's home is completed and the family has moved back in just prior to the start of school. Â